Our firm represents our clients in all aspects of their estate planning.  We prepare sophisticated estate plans that help our clients to achieve their personal, business and tax-related goals. In addition, we implement a variety of advanced tax strategies to minimize gift and estate taxes for our clients.  This often encompasses the creation of various types of trusts--including irrevocable life insurance trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, qualified personal residence trusts and credit shelter or generation-skipping trusts.  Our firm handles a variety of estate planning matters, and advises our clients how to gain the maximum benefit of all laws while at the same time carrying out the person's wishes.  Our estate planning services include the following:
 
Wills and Trusts
Asset Protection
Gift Giving
Business Succession and Insurance Planning
Medical Powers of Attorney
Financial Powers of Attorney
Planning for Incapacity
Planning for Special Needs

Probate & Trust Administration
Probate is the legal process by which the decedent's property is distributed to legatees or heirs. We assist executors, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries in California probate courts. We file pleadings with probate court to admit a will into probate, prepare and file all documents required under California law, and prepare estate tax returns.
 
With trust administration, many of the same issues require attention. We counsel fiduciaries and surviving family members to help them make sound legal and financial decisions during stressful times. We recommend actions to help fiduciaries operate the trust in compliance with the law while avoiding personal liability.
 
We understand the tremendous emotional burden families endure when faced with the death of a family member and our attorneys and staff will help you navigate the often complex financial and legal processes confronting you.  We can help you each step of the way with marshaling and protecting assets, preparing an inventory of all estate assets, paying bills of and claims against the estate, making distributions to beneficiaries and preparing accountings and any necessary tax returns.

Contact us at the Law Offices of Mark Murad.